Help, Raymarine ST50

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Quandary

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This morning when we switched the ST50 instruments on they wanted a code (Codelock protected) this is the first time in our ownership that this has happened and means we are cruising without any information, the depth sounder in particular is badly missed and is going to restrict our destinations but we do not want to abort the trip. I now realize how much I took true wind info. for granted. We diverted to Oban Marina in the hope that they might be able to help but no luck, their advice was to take the boat to a Raymarine specialist who would return the instruments to Raymarine. I have tried all the obvious numbers 1234, 0000, 1111 etc. but it is probably the first owners wifes birthday. The boat has had four owners and there is no record of a code.
I presume that Raymarine must have a master code to overcome this problem, surely it must be resolvable locally? we can not be the first to suffer it. Anyone any ideas that would let us continue safely.
 
I believe the Raymarine solution involves temporarily plugging a special box into the Seatalk network, which unlocks all connected instruments. Someone on the forum used to have one - can't remember who, but I don't think he posts any more.

Not very helpful, I know. I think the ST50s were the only range of instruments that had this feature, before they realised it wasn't a very good idea.

Pete
 
Quandary said:
This morning when we switched the ST50 instruments on they wanted a code (Codelock protected) this is the first time in our ownership that this has happened and means we are cruising without any information, the depth sounder in particular is badly missed and is going to restrict our destinations but we do not want to abort the trip. I now realize how much I took true wind info. for granted. We diverted to Oban Marina in the hope that they might be able to help but no luck, their advice was to take the boat to a Raymarine specialist who would return the instruments to Raymarine. I have tried all the obvious numbers 1234, 0000, 1111 etc. but it is probably the first owners wifes birthday. The boat has had four owners and there is no record of a code.
I presume that Raymarine must have a master code to overcome this problem, surely it must be resolvable locally? we can not be the first to suffer it. Anyone any ideas that would let us continue safely.
Click to expand...

We had this happen on our boat back in the UK. resolved by our local friendly dealer in Poole lending me his instrument head gizmo to put into the network and apply the relevant reset codes from it. He knew me well and got more business as a result later, others may not be so cooperative I did the job in a morning including the back and forth trips. Good luck.

PS added. IIRC the add in unit read the existing code entered so it could be used to gain access and then recode with no code.
 
Last edited:
pvb said:
This is intriguing; I wonder why you haven't been asked for a code before?
Click to expand...

Spoke to Raymarine, they asked if any of the instruments had a fault, not sure but the wind direction seemed a bit uncertain at times recently, they told me some dealers used to have a 'code buster' but not so likely now so it looks as if they may need to go back. I am not certain but I think you only need to send one. To my great relief the ST 400 pilot is not affected. Really frustrating to come up at the start of a trip. Since the stuff is now perhaps 20 years old it might be better to replace it all but the displays look like new with very sharp displays. The manual implies that you can either choose not to code, to code 'once only' or to code at each start up. Spoke to Ardfern, Caley and Gael Force and all three claimed never to have heard of the 'code buster.'
 
I'm glad I asked the previous owner and found he had never set it; like yours all our ST50s are fine despite their age.

Good luck and please let us know the outcome.
 
prv said:
I believe the Raymarine solution involves temporarily plugging a special box into the Seatalk network, which unlocks all connected instruments. Someone on the forum used to have one - can't remember who, but I don't think he posts any more.
Click to expand...

Nigel :-(
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?391714-ST50-Codebuster

And yes, friendly dealers are the first place to start: that's how I cleared the codelock on my ST50s but stupidly I didn't snoop the seatalk network while doing it to see what commands it was sending in order to create a software codebuster.

First place to look for a temporary fix is your instrument connections. A common set-up would be to program the code into a display at the chart table and have that send it to the other instruments on start-up. Thus someone who nicks your outside instruments without gaining entry to the cabin gets locked instruments. So if you've got connectivity issues, try and resolve those: Maybe your instrument which knows the code can't send it to the others.
 
Just to update on the above; I put all four instruments in a box and sent them off to Raymarine. After a fortnight hearing nothing further I rang the 'Out of Warranty Service Dept.' I was advised that their current lead in time until inspection was 15 working days from receipt of the package, they said that they had sent me an email but made a mistake in my address. Last Friday I got an emailed report, the multi was not codelocked and working normally but they advised that there could be problems if it was on a system with a 4000 or 5000 autopilot. Mine is a 4000 and works well but as far as I know is independent of the other instruments, I have an EV1 replacement pilot system anyway which I will keep independent of the other instruments when I fit it this winter. The report on each of the other three cockpit instruments was the same, each was codelocked to the same code and each tested as okay. No explanation given on how the code may have become activated. On the advice given above I have decided to stick with the ST50s but it may be useful to someone to be aware of the potential compatability issue with the pilots.
I asked for the code to be disabled and at least I now know what it is, not a number I might have guessed in hours of trying.
 
Quandary said:
Just to update on the above; I put all four instruments in a box and sent them off to Raymarine. After a fortnight hearing nothing further I rang the 'Out of Warranty Service Dept.' I was advised that their current lead in time until inspection was 15 working days from receipt of the package, they said that they had sent me an email but made a mistake in my address. Last Friday I got an emailed report, the multi was not codelocked and working normally but they advised that there could be problems if it was on a system with a 4000 or 5000 autopilot. Mine is a 4000 and works well but as far as I know is independent of the other instruments, I have an EV1 replacement pilot system anyway which I will keep independent of the other instruments when I fit it this winter. The report on each of the other three cockpit instruments was the same, each was codelocked to the same code and each tested as okay. No explanation given on how the code may have become activated. On the advice given above I have decided to stick with the ST50s but it may be useful to someone to be aware of the potential compatability issue with the pilots.
I asked for the code to be disabled and at least I now know what it is, not a number I might have guessed in hours of trying.
Click to expand...

And as an owner of an ST50 system that has the code lock sticker on the covers but as yet has never asked for one,

How much did that cost?

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